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Israel's Elite Negev Squadron

November 21, 2008 10:49 AM

By Simon McGregor-Wood, Correspondent & Bureau Chief, ABC News Jerusalem

At the Ramon  air base in the desert of southern Israel, the Negev Squadron  trains with its F-161s.   

This week ABC News gained rare access to this elite unit.

Nm_israel_f16_081121_main_2

As fears over Iran’s nuclear threat grow, the focus of the world’s attention  has turned to the possibility of an Israeli airstrike.

The Hebrew name for the newest version of the F-161 is sufa, which means  "storm." Delivered in 2004, the F161 is the latest generation of strike aircraft in the Israeli arsenal, ideal for hitting  targets on or under the ground.

It carries a complex array of  high-tech weaponry, including American-made bunker busting bombs. These will be needed to effectively deal with Iran’s well-protected nuclear facilities.

Deep in the heart of the Negev desert the Ramon air base is a dusty sprawl of hangars, fuel dumps, office buildings and barracks. It is one of the biggest bases in Israel.

Following a short briefing by the squadron commander, we were allowed to talk to a pilot, his identity protected by his flying helmet.

He was introduced to us simply as Capt. Uri, a Russian-born Israeli immigrant, now a member of Israeli's fighting elite.

I wanted to know if his training was,specifically geared to a possible Iranian mission. He had been well-briefed in evasion tactics.

“We are part of the armed forces of this country, and whatever our government asks us to do, we will do, and so we will train for any mission we are given,”  he said. 

I tried a follow -up question, which was equally well side-stepped, and the woman from the  army’s press department hissed “that’s enough!”   

Israel’s leaders have made it clear they will never accept an Iran with nuclear weapons.

Once before faced with such a threat, Israel took matters into its own hands. In June 1981, eight  much-older F16s destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor.

Any operation to destroy Iran’s scattered and well-protected nuclear program will be much harder, the global reaction much more complicated.

But the question of Iran’s race to nuclear capability won’t go away. It is likely to be one the  president-elect’s sternest and earliest foreign policy tests. Barack Obama favors dialogue and diplomacy.

Out on the dusty tarmac of the Ramon air base, Israel’s pilots aren’t taking any chances. They are training every day for every eventuality, and despite their reluctance to talk, you can bet that includes a strike on Iran.

Read more blogs from Simon McGregor-Wood

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November 21, 2008 in Simon McGregor-Wood | Permalink | User Comments (25)

User Comments

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The US (only power to ever use nukes on a major population center and a country that invades a new country every other year or so) along with Israel (a country that demarcates the Palestinian territories and continues to grab more Palestinian land for settlement building) need to advocate for diplomacy towards Iran, a country that hasn't instigated invasion on another country in about 250 years.

Posted by: Huh | Nov 21, 2008 11:24:54 AM

Ooo that is right, these are the same guys that were supposed to stop Hezbollah? We all saw how that went...

LMAO

Ok

Posted by: Citizen in FL | Nov 21, 2008 11:26:53 AM

They have been threatened by Iran, they should take that serious.

They have an every day threat from Palestine and Hammas.

Of Course they are going to ready for anything. They would be fools not to be.

Training happens in every part of life.

Israel air force is not different.

Posted by: seah | Nov 21, 2008 11:30:06 AM

F-161s or F-16s

Posted by: BigRedYeti | Nov 21, 2008 11:38:49 AM

IRAN ..HER PROXI HEZBOLLAH, HAMAS, ECT, ECT.AMAHDINEJAD, THEY ARE FULL OF HATE FOR THE OCCIDENTAL, WORDL, THEY WANT TO DESTROY ISRAEL AND THE WESTERN CIVILITIATION.

Posted by: david | Nov 21, 2008 11:41:44 AM

they didn't smash Hamas as the press, wouldn't let them . rest assured if its to the death ,the Israelis will win. they are held back by fear of bad press.

Posted by: al | Nov 21, 2008 12:11:29 PM

Israel has every RIGHT to defend herself. All she has is a small peice of land GOD gave her, those trying to destroy her have vast amounts of land. HOW GREEDY CAN ONE GET?

Posted by: JANIS | Nov 21, 2008 12:21:54 PM

all the people in usa want israel to kill kill and kill moor muslims.no one wants to talk.its a jokeall the comments u see is sick.r u not sick of killing.2500000 iraqe 1oooooo afgahni.500000.kill kill kill and get killd.and now iran.peace be with u

Posted by: M NASEEM | Nov 21, 2008 12:30:01 PM

all the people in usa want israel to kill kill and kill moor muslims.no one wants to talk.its a jokeall the comments u see is sick.r u not sick of killing.2500000 iraqe 1oooooo afgahni.500000.kill kill kill and get killd.and now iran.peace be with u

Posted by: M NASEEM | Nov 21, 2008 12:30:14 PM

Al your retarded, the media prevented Israel from destoying Hamas? Please, actually if you stop reading your ancient fairy tale/scroll, Tora or whatever that crap is, you would see that Israel is actually BLOCKING reporters from entering the Gaza strip. The CEO's from all the large news networks (ABC, CNN, MSN, BBC, AP, RUETERS, etc..) have filed a complaint with the Israeli government regarding the prevention of allowing reporters to access the Gaza strip. So your reporter excuse does not hold water.

Janis, your full of it. Stop reading your fairy tale. You guys had claim to that land 2000 yrs ago or so. And you want it back when? Now?

Oh, and by the way, did you know arabs (which Palestinians are arabs) are actually semites?

Janis, go bash your head against that gay wailing wall. Im sure god will come down at night and take your little pieces of paper and answer your prayers LMAO

Posted by: Citizen in FL | Nov 21, 2008 1:15:20 PM

> That's pretty untruthful, dude...where did you pull that from?

Posted by: Jazz | Nov 21, 2008 3:00:33 PM

Posted by: Citizen in FL | Nov 21, 2008 3:15:11 PM

I believe it is supposed to read F-16I. The "I" signifying the latest variant of the F-16.

Posted by: TomSeattle | Nov 21, 2008 3:34:29 PM

Hey Naseem, why don't you ask all the terrorists if they are tired of killing...last time I checked they were still pretty much talking about killing us all. The USA has every right to attack those who mean to do us harm and who threaten our way of life or our allies. I hope Israel blows them all off the map. The world would be a much more peacefull place. And while you are at it why don't you think about who the terrorists...thats right, you win, muslims

Posted by: Wells747 | Nov 21, 2008 3:49:04 PM

Wells747, you dont you go back to your trailer you d0uche. Hamas and Hezbollah dont give 2 craps about the US. Israel is who they are fighting against.

And I did not know Timothy McVeigh was Muslim. I did not know the ETA and FARC are muslims either. Thanks for informing me of this new breaking development.

All religions have their extremists. Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Why do you hear about only Muslim terrorists? Because we are at war with 2 muslim countries. Seriously, I am so disappointed with my fellow Americans and their ignorance.

Well, this is what happens when an agenda of anti-education is in place (Thanks to GWB).

Posted by: Citizen in FL | Nov 21, 2008 4:30:28 PM

Hey Citizen, nice to see you have gone to childish name calling. For the record-don't live in a trailer park. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from a major university in the big 12. So you can stick your education comments. It is obvious to normal people that my comments did not mean all terrorists are muslim. But who are the ones causing all of the problems in the world right now? Thats right. And my comment also said that the US has the right to defend itself and its allies. Last time I checked Israel was one of our allies. It is easy to see that you have an anti American and anti Israel agenda here. You need to be knocked of your high horse. You don't have the intelligence to debate without name calling and insults. My 6 year old cousin can call names and throw insults. Grow up.

Posted by: Wells747 | Nov 21, 2008 4:53:16 PM

@ M Naseem - Please learn to write correctly. I really would like to hear your view, but I can't understand your rambling! Stop skipping your English class dude!

Posted by: Gerald | Nov 21, 2008 5:30:19 PM

dont bet on it. if they intended to strike iran they would have done it long since. they have not simply because it would not be successful. they were hoping bush would do the dirty work for them.

Posted by: jeff m | Nov 21, 2008 6:52:55 PM

dont bet on it. if they intended to strike iran they would have done it long since. they have not simply because it would not be successful. they were hoping bush would do the dirty work for them.

Posted by: jeff m | Nov 21, 2008 6:53:14 PM

gerald,
atleast he can speak your language. Lets see if an ignorant like you can talk in any other language besides what your moma taught you. Continue please...

Posted by: illusionist | Nov 21, 2008 7:18:19 PM

You, reading this, do realize that this story wasn't meant for us in the USA, EU, etc.? It was meant for the Iranians, Syrians, etc. Thanx to ABC for being a tool of .....Your choice!

Posted by: aztec69 | Nov 21, 2008 11:05:43 PM

Si Vis Pacem, Para bellum!

Posted by: Pro Israel- Pro US | Nov 22, 2008 4:16:36 AM

Israel has every right to prepare for any eventuality including preemptive strikes in Iran if necessary. Iran has repeated stated it's intention to destroy Israel making this an easy call. Plus the current president sees himself as a liberator sent by Allah to reestablish the might of the Persian empire. That includes crushing Israel. Our hope is the large moderate class in Iran will find a way to over throw the extremist Islamic fringe who are distorting Islam and endangering their own country.

Posted by: richard warren | Nov 22, 2008 8:24:25 AM

U IN WAST HAVE BEEN KILLING FOR 500 YEARS.WHAT HAVE U GOT TO SHOW.DO NOT WANT TO TALK TO THIS ONE OR THAT ONE.COWBOYS WANT TO KILL KILL AND KILL SOM MOOR.U GOT THIS RIGHT AND THAT RIGHT THE BEST RIGHT U HAVE IS KILLINGS.MAY GOD HELP U TO LIV IN PEACE.AND LET OTHER LIV IN PEACE.WHAT GOOSE UP IT COMS DOWN.PEACE BE WITH U

Posted by: m naseem | Nov 22, 2008 11:47:39 AM

ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LOVE EACH OTHER.600 BEASTS EAT OVER FLUSH AND DRANK OVER BLOOD.600 BEASTS DO NOT FORGET.ALL WORLDS PEOPLE R POWNS.ALL OF US HAVE TO GET TOGATHER TO FIGHT TERROR.AND THE BEASTS.PEACE BE WITH U

Posted by: MNASEEM | Nov 22, 2008 12:02:21 PM

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